A great man celebrated

 I watched the state funeral of Jummy Carter, the 39 USA President. All the pomp and circumstance that is expected. It brought me back down memory lane to a visit to a friend in Tallahassee Florida, Beverley Booth, a doctor that I met in India in 1990 (that's another story)

Anyway she took me one weekend to Plains Georgia with intent of worshipping with Pres. Jimmy Carter and wife on Sunday. What a blessing!

Getting into the church was a process  through security: no bags, show id (passport), once you enter there is no out and in again. We were all seated by 10 am for a service at 11 am.

One of the Church Elders I am sure,  came and gave the program of how to be during church service and with the President. I am sure she ran a platoon in her other life and you would not have wanted to cross her for a minute. She said that there were 30 in the congregation every week along with 200 guests.

About 1015 Jimmy comes out and teaches a Sunday School class. I can not remember a word he said but I was some impressed with his theology. 

About 1050 he goes back and get his first lady Rosalynn, and they sit a few rows back across the aisle from Bev and I.

Here is a collection plate that Jimmy made for the church in his woodshop.

There was a procedure if you wanted a pic with the pair. You can not touch them or speak to them, it was like lining up for Santa with no conversation and no sitting on his knee.

We were told about a cafeteria next door that Jimmy had built for retired cafeteria workers to staff. Of course we had to go for lunch.

it is called THE CAFETERIA, original sorta.

Staff were very friendly serving traditional southern foods. I asked for something that resembled spinach, tasted very bitter. I did not finish it.ugh

What a visit. It made the funeral service much more meaningful and relevent to the eulogies. I felt like I knew the man a little bit.

Bev wemt to Plains to see the leaving of the casket for the Capital.

A humble man on to his life eternal. 

May he rest in peace and rise in glory!

 

NEW YEAR RETREAT

 Bishop organized a retreat with a speaker for priests and their spouses (all women as there are no women priests except me in this diocese). I realize how the language and references change when women priests are added to the mix.

Speaker was The Very Rev. Dr. Joseph Osei, Was a lecturer, dean of cathedral in Kumasi amongst other positions. A very engaging presenter.  

                                     

While he was busy with the priests, His topic was leadership. While he was busy with the priests his wife was leading sessions with the clergy wives. There is a very clear expectation that the wives participate in all church matters. Babies under one year were brought along to the retreat. Wives did the cooking with some help from the Bishop's staff. Another instance when I realize spouses in Canada, cooking for the retreat ???? Toto, we are not in Kansas any more.  

I got to meet Solomon, 5 months next week and an absolute delight. Still too young to react to my colour. a little older and they recognize I am very different and then scream++++. 

      

 me  and 

 Solomon's Daddy, Rev. Christian Gorman (who took care of me so I did not trip on the uneven stones)

me going with the flow, eating fufu and fish for lunch

can't find pic that I saved will get help in office on Monday

Retreats here have lots of prayer time, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, with everyone standing, walking back and forth, and mumbling or talking their prayers out loud, it becomes like a din of noise in the room.

Retreat was very good for me. I wonder though for the priest who are in parishes had just been through Xmas week along with New Years celebrations and then attend these days to be able to grasp anything from the retreat. (here  there is no option to not attend). So they soldier through, amazingly, fully participating, I am really impressed.